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Human Rights & Democracy
The European Union views all human rights as universal, indivisible and interdependent. It actively promotes and defends them both within its borders and when engaging in relations with non-EU countries.
"Sexual violence against women, girls, men and boys is a despicable crime, and even more so when it occurs in vulnerable situations of conflict, or as a tactic of war. It is a grave violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, and must be fought with the strongest commitment" the EU stressed on International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Natural resources belong to local communities not to militias. Since 2003, the EU and international partners representing 99% of the world’s diamond trade have joined forces to make sure that the production and trade of rough diamond contributes to peace and sustainable economic and human development. Through the Chairmanship this year, and a number of concrete projects, the EU is committed to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds and improve mining communities’ livelihoods.
Civic tech is no passing fad or tech du jour. It might even be more profound than, say, social media, mobile telephony, robotics or the blockchain because it goes straight to the essence of community, the public life that binds us all. Just think about it before you say no!
Security and development are two-sides of the same coin, and neither can be achieved without fully engaging women's organisations and taking into account women's concerns. As the EU moves to strengthen its ability to promote security and stability around the world, ensuring a strong gender perspective through policy-making and implementation is critical. At the European Development Days (EDD), the European External Action Service took the opportunity of the presence in Brussels of thousands of international development and gender experts to organize an open debate and gather recommendations to promote a gender-balanced and sustainable approach to its evolving security and development cooperation policies and actions.
As the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 on Women Peace and Security approaches, EEAS Secretary General Helga Schmid joined UN, NATO and civil society representatives to discuss and define how to act to prevent conflict and violence against women at the European Development Days on 6 June 2018.
